Ladakh Birds

The length of the Bar headed Goose is 7 cm. It has two black bars on the back of the white head. Neck is black with a white strip down each side. The body is grey and rear flanks are blackish. Bill and legs of Bar headed Goose are yellow-orange. At rest wings extend beyond tail. In flight wing coverts and belly are grey with black flight feathers. The juvenile has no black bars on the head. The bird breeds on the upland of Central Asia and Ladakh and moves to lower parts of India in non-breeding period.

The length of Ruddy Shelduck is 64 cms. Body is rusty orange with paler head. Female is whitish around face. Tail, uppertail coverts and lower part of the rump is black. Wings above and below of Ruddy Shelduck have black primaries, green-glossed secondaries and coverts. Bill and legs are black. During the breeding season male has a black collar but female lacks collar. The bird breeds in Central Asia and Ladakh. During non breeding period the bird moves to South Asia, north part of South East Asia and south part of East Asia.

The length of Gargeny is 38 cm. While flying , conspiciuous white bars on each side of speculum can be clearly seen. The belly is white and legs are grey. Female has a distinct black eyestrip. Base of the bill of Gargeny has a small pale oval patch and wing coverts are grey brown. Male eclipse is like female but wing coverts are blue-grey. Breeds in south part of North Asia and north part of Central Asia, moves to South Asia. Central and north part of South-East Asia in non-breeding period.

Male is about 75 cms in length and female is 53 cm in length of Northern Pintail. The body is slender shaped with long neck and bill. Male's long black tail is distimctive.; female tail is also longer than other species. Both sexes have grey underwings. Male : In flight, green speculum with buff-bar in front, white bar behind. Bill black with dark blue-grey sides; legs lead – grey. Female : In flight, brown speculum with white bar behind. Breeds widely in North Asia; moves to South Asia, north part of South-East Asia, south and central parts of East Asia in non-breeding period of Northern Pintail.

The length of Northern Shoveller is about 50 cm heavy looking with huge conspicuous spatulate black bill. Male : head black with green gloss breast, sides of vent and scapulariswhite; iris yellow. Female : Brown with dark brown markings; whitish tail; iris is black with upperwing duller than male. Northern Shoveller breeds in North Asia; moves to South Asia, northern South – East Asia and East Asia in non breeding period.

The length of Eurasian Wigeon is about 48 cm. Medium – sized with short neck and bill is small. Male : head and neck chestnut; crown and forehead cream yellow. Body – grey; breast tinged light-brown. Undertail-coverts are black. Female : deeper brown than other species. Eurasian Wigeon head pinkish brown than other species. Head pinkish brown with black spots. Breeds by small lakes, marshes in open country bays. Breeds across North Asia; moves to East Asia, north part of South Asia in non-breeding period.

The length of Gadwall is about 50 cm. Plumage is dull rather uniformely coloured. Male : head and neck grey-brown, darker at rear; body dark-grey; belly white; bill black. Female :brown with dark brown markings, bill black. Gadwall breeds from Central Asia to north part of East Asial; moves to north part of South Asia and East Asia; moves to north part of South Asia and East Asia in non breeding period.

The length of Mallard is 59 cm. Large bulky duck with longish bill, hewad, neck. Both sexes in flight show blue speculum with white bars in front and behind. Male : head black with metallic-green gloss; white collar; breast dark chestnut. Body grayish-white; uppertail and undertail-coverts black. Bill yellow to olive. Female : brown with dark brown markings; whitish tail; black bill with orange patches on sides. Mostly Mallard is found on all kinds of lowland still water from shallow lakes. It breeds widely from Central Asia to north part of East Asia; moves to South Asia, north part of South-East Asia and East Asia in non breeding period.

Common Teal is also known as Green-winged Teal. The length of this bird is about 37 cm. Both sexes have black bill, legs. Male: head has a distinct yellow line surrounding green part. Body grey with white horizontal scapular line. On each side of vent, cream yellow patches bordered with black. In flight has green speculum with greater-coverts, whitish trailing edge. Female: two white bars on upper wing are narrow. It is found in Lakes, Marshes, Rivers and Pools. Common Teal breeds across North Asia; moves to South Asia, East Asia, north part of South-East-Asia in non-breeding period.

The length of Red Crested Pochard is about 50 cm. Red Crusted Pochard is a large Duck with round head, longish neck. In flight, both sexes show conspiciuous large white band on upperwing, white underwing. Male : head golden-chestnut; neck, underparts, uppertail and undertail coverts black; tail grey-brown; iris, bill and legs red; white shoulder line. Female : brown with dark brown cap, hindneck; cheeks and throat pale; underparts grey brown with some barring; iris brown, bill dark with pink edges and band near tip. Is found in lakes, marshes and inlets. Breeds in west part of Central Asia moves to north parts of South and South-East Asia in non-breeding period.

The length of Common Pochard is about 45 cm. Both sexes have grey wing-stripes. Male : head and neck reddish-brown; breast, uppertail and undertail coverts black; body grey; iris red; bill black with pale grey band near tip. Female : head and neck are brown; pale yellowish-brown lines around and behind eyes; iris brown; body grey-brown; rump uppertail and undertail – coverts and tail dark grey-brown. Common Pochard is found in lakes, marshes, river, pools etc. Breeds in west part of Central Asia; moves to north part of South-East Asia, and East-Asia in non-breeding period.

The length of Tuffed Duck is 40 cm. On rear crown male has dropping crest, female short one; neck looks short; iris yellow. Tuffed Duck both sexes have black upperwings with broad white wing bar; underwings whitish.